SOLIDARITY LOWELL RAPID RESPONSE TEAM ACTION LIST FOR 11/2/17

Local

Help at the Polls on Tuesday!

Local progressive groups are working together to coordinate a polling place signup for people who want to promote LHS Downtown candidates and those who support progressive values. You don’t have to live and vote in Lowell to help out on election day, just be willing to take a shift (or more) outside of a polling place (beyond 150 feet!). All you need to do is hold a sign and talk about progressive candidates! Sites, addresses, and available times are listed in the spreadsheet. There’s a space at the bottom to note if you need signs to hold or literature to hand out, so one or more of the organizations can hook you up.

To sign up: https://goo.gl/WSjfQJ

 

Make a Plan to Vote on November 7th!

Check out the Lowell Votes Voting Guide here: http://www.lowellvotes.org/2017guide/

Find information about polling places here: http://wheredoivoteMA.com

 

Demonstrate, Drink, and Discuss

Friday, November 10th, 6:30-8:30pm, Ladd and Whitney Memorial (the island outside City Hall), 309 Merrimack Street, Lowell

Join us for Solidarity Lowell’s monthly visibility event! At 6:30pm, join us at the island in front of City Hall to protest against the recent atrocities of the Trump administration. Please bring signs! Then at 7:30pm, come to Lowell Burger Company (143 Merrimack Street) to have some drinks/food and discuss the events of the week! All are welcome!

More information: https://www.facebook.com/events/242924869569788/

A Rapid Response Rally if Mueller is Fired

If it happens before 2pm, the event will be held at 5pm the same day. If it happens after 2pm, the event will be held at noon the following day. Location is the island outside City Hall, across from Cobblestones, 309 Merrimack St, Lowell, MA

Nobody is above the law! Donald Trump is publicly considering firing special counsel Robert Mueller. This would be a constitutional crisis for our country. Our response in the minutes and hours following a power grab will dictate what happens next, which is why an immediate response is imperative.

Sign up to be notified: https://act.moveon.org/event/mueller-firing-rapid-response-events/14830

 

State

Healthcare Enrollment Has Begun!

Open enrollment for next year began November 1st in Massachusetts, and ends on January 23rd, but in many states it runs only until Dec. 15th.

Find fact sheets, scripts, and flyers here: https://www.indivisible.org/resource/open-enrollment-organizing-toolkit/

 

Rally in Solidarity with People Protected by TPS

Wednesday, November 8th, 11am, Massachusetts State House, 24 Beacon St, Boston, MA

Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is a form of immigration status that provides employment authorization and protection from deportation for foreign nationals who cannot be safely returned to their home countries. Join us for a rally to support the TPS program!

More information: https://www.facebook.com/events/1869727596676897

 

Hearing on the We The People Act

Wednesday, November 8th, 2-5pm, Massachusetts State House, Hearing Rooms B1 & B2, 24 Beacon St, Boston, MA

The Joint Committee on Veteran and Federal Affairs will hold a hearing on H.1926, the We the People Act, filed in the House by Rep. Carmine Gentile, of Sudbury. This bill aims to convene a Constitutional Convention to consider amendments to the Constitution to limit the influence of money in our political system. Our bill is the only bill being heard that day that is expected to have citizens coming to it, so we need to PACK THIS DOUBLE SIZED ROOM!

More information: https://www.facebook.com/events/1996941123894057/

 

Join Us for the 2nd MA Indivisible Conference

Sunday Nov. 12, 9am-5pm, Worcester State University, Worcester, MA

Coming one year after the disastrous election of 2016 and one year before the critical midterm election of 2018, this 2nd statewide conference is focused on skills training, getting ready for the 2018 elections now, and how Massachusetts can counteract the negative effects of the Trump agenda. There will be training and critical workshops to give groups the tools they need to up their activism game and opportunities to connect with other groups for more coordinated action post-conference. Elizabeth Warren is the keynote speaker so register now before it sells out!

More information and to register: https://www.indivisible-ma.org/

 

Take Action for Criminal Justice Reform

Please contact your state representative (find yours here https://openstates.org/find_your_legislator/):
Rep. Thomas Golden 617-722-2263
Rep. David Nangle 617-722-2520
Rep. Rady Mom 617-722-2460
Rep. Colleen Garry 617-722-2380
Rep. James Lyons 617-722-2460

In these times, it’s so important that Massachusetts lead the way forward on long overdue justice reforms in the criminal legal system. For too long, and through a series of systemic practices, our justice system has exacerbated the worst injustices of racism and imprinted too many Massachusetts communities and families with long-term harm with ineffective and inhumane practices (like nearly unlimited solitary confinement without oversight).

Sample Script: “Hello, my name is _____ from _____, Massachusetts. Please work to ensure the strongest reforms that address mass incarceration, the disproportionate and racist impact of the current system, and thoughtful investments in smart justice. Specifically, please ensure that this bill repeals mandatory minimums, and does NOT add new ones, increases the threshold for a felony for larceny from $250 to $1,500, eliminates excessive probation and parole fees, raises the age of criminal majority, reduces the length of time before a criminal record can be sealed, enables DAs and police departments to embrace restorative justice as an alternative to incarceration, and ends the punitive use of solitary confinement. Thank you!”

More information: http://www.progressivemass.com/cjr-takeaction

 

Federal

Demand Congress Oppose a Mueller Firing


Elizabeth Warren: 617-565-3170
Edward Markey: 617-565-8519
Niki Tsongas: 978-459-0101

Sample Script: “Hello, my name is _____ from ______, Massachusetts. Please support S.1735/H.R.3654, the Special Counsel Independence Protection Act, and make a public statement that the firing of Special Counsel Mueller by Trump would be completely unacceptable. It’s the duty of Congress to serve as a check on Trump and prevent him from sending our democracy into a tailspin. Thank you!”

More information: https://5calls.org/issue/oppose-mueller-firing

 

The RRT (Rapid Response Team) Action List compiles action items from the week into one place. If you would like to add anything to the weekly update, please send it to Marissa Dupont on Facebook or at marissa.dupont@gmail.com using subject line “RRT”, or use hashtag #RRT in the Solidarity Lowell Facebook group.